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Open Poetry #16
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paladin
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since 2001-08-05
Posts 930
Pensacola,Fl.

0 posted 2001-10-19 10:18 AM


The Tet offensive was over and done
We spent the whole time on the boat
The Viet Cong tried but we won
We win in the end was thier gloat
Our base was safely surrounded by water
Our pounding air strikes kept them away
The villigers suffered horrible slaughter
The orphanage stood just outside their town
The nuns heard the guns and fled with the kids
The Cong hit it hard and burned it all down
How could we help them?We where all just squids
We started a clean up with help from the town
Working with empty cargo crates and used tin
We took off our shirts and helped to rebuild
It was'nt too fancy but the nuns rushed back in
They set up house keeping doing God's will
The kids gathered round us with happy grins
We all gave them some cookies from our meal
One stood alone away from his other friends
I walked over to him his pain I could feel
His face showed no joy not nothing at all
In Vietnamese I tryed to make him understand
He will not speak softly said sister De Paul
He just quitely stood holding out his hand
I saw something small lieing there
A tiny plastic tiger colored light tan
The nun said he wants to give it to you
No,to take a childs toy would make him sad
She said to me sobbing with a voice so true
He wanted to thank me with all that he had

Dedicated to all the ones who were spat on and called "baby killers".


paladin

[This message has been edited by paladin (edited 10-21-2001).]

© Copyright 2001 Robert E. Jackson - All Rights Reserved
Startime
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since 2000-10-03
Posts 5918
Canada
1 posted 2001-10-19 10:28 AM


Oh my gosh......this touched my heart deeply. My father experienced something like this in Korea...Tears flow freely from my eyes as I read these words.

Love I leave with you whether it is in your life now or yet the essense of your dreams.

Nightshade
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Member Patricius
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962
just out of reach
2 posted 2001-10-19 01:00 PM


Oh Paladin, this is a touching piece. Such a sweet offering to you from this child. I am so glad you made it home. To think......this type of tragedy is still going on in other places at this very moment. Well done. Chris

Life is not measured by breaths you take, but by moments that take your breath away.

Marge Tindal
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Florida's Foreverly Shores
3 posted 2001-10-19 01:03 PM


Paladin~
That's a pretty tender memory to carry~
*Hugs*
~*Marge*~

~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
   noles1@totcon.com              

Midnitesun
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Gaia
4 posted 2001-10-19 02:03 PM


A heart tugger, Paladin. In spite of all the inhumane evil nastiness of war, and the painful memories you must endure, you have managed to carry home memories of love and thankfulness. Safely tucked into your heart for so long, you now graciously share them with the rest of us. Thank you.
Lady In White
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since 2001-02-12
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USA
5 posted 2001-10-19 02:13 PM



Sometimes when we think we've given our all, a child reminds us how much was truly lost, and we dig a little deeper yet.

This touches many an emotion, and I thank you for sharing.

JamesMichael
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since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
6 posted 2001-10-19 02:14 PM


A wonderful memory to have...James
Magnus
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South Carolina, USA
7 posted 2001-10-19 02:27 PM


Mistakes....I don't have a word to say about
mistakes....you have painted a picture that
is so nice...Sometimes the tragedies of war
can be overcome.  Thanx for a nice poem.

Mistletoe Angel
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Portland, Oregon
8 posted 2001-10-19 02:45 PM




(big hugggsssssss) Oh Robert, I cried throughout this poem; this is so so sad and so heartaching. (big hugggsssssss) I know how hard it must feel, but also remember you are always blessed to hold such wonderful memories of love and light you share with us all, and we are so proud of you! (sigh) Very wonderfully heartfelt poem, dearest friend! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Robert, thank you for sharing!

May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

Enchantress
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since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
9 posted 2001-10-19 03:44 PM


The nun said he wants to give it to you
No,to take a childs toy would make him sad
She said to me sobbing with a voice so true
He wanted to thank me with all that he had
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~````
Bob, this is quite the story, and I do wish it weren't true, but I know it was, and is.  You pen the events of Nam well my friend.  I do hope you continue to place them on these blue pages to share with all of us here.
~Hugs and a Tally-Ho, Nancy~  


  ~Time has cast a spell on you,
So that you won't ever forget me.~

Andrew Scott
Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558
Redlands,CA,USA
10 posted 2001-10-19 04:13 PM


Thanks for sharing.  Peace to you and yours.
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